Jane and Katherine Lee
Jane Lee (1912–1957) and Katherine Lee (1909–1968), sisters, were child stars in silent motion pictures and vaudeville theatre.[1] They were also known as the "Baby Grands," "Lee Kids," or the "Fox Kiddies" for their appearances in Fox Film productions.[2]
Jane Lee | |
|---|---|
Katherine and Jane Lee (left) | |
| Born | February 15, 1912 |
| Died | March 7, 1957 (aged 45) |
| Known for | Famous child actor for silent films and vaudeville theatre |
Katherine Lee | |
|---|---|
Katherine (right and Jane Lee | |
| Born | February 14, 1909 |
| Died | 1968 New York City, U.S. |
| Known for | Famous child actor for silent films and vaudeville theatre |
The Lee sisters were the children of American juggler Tommy Banahan and Irene Lee, an Irish dancer and occasional actor.[3][4][5] During Tommy and Irene's European tour, Katherine was born in Berlin, Germany on February 14, 1909, and Jane born February 15, 1912, in either Dublin, Ireland,[3] or Glasgow, Scotland.[6] The sisters appeared in the original Neptune's Daughter, filmed in 1914. In 1915, Jane appeared with Valeska Suratt in The Soul of Broadway at Fox Studios. They both appeared in A Daughter of the Gods (1916), with Katherine's dramatic performance earning praise as a "child prodigy" and a "three-foot Fiske."[7] In 1917, Jane and Katherine starred in two of Fox's "kiddie films", Troublemakers and Two Little Imps.[8] In 1919, the Lee sisters made the list in the Top Ten Money Making Stars Poll.[9]
The Lee sisters continued to act in silent films through 1919. They appeared in Swat the Spy (1918), Tell It to the Marines (1918), and Smiles (1919). Jane and Katherine continued performing in vaudeville throughout the 1920s and into early 1930s. Jane later had uncredited roles in the sound motion pictures Knock on Any Door (1949), Cheaper By the Dozen (1950), and Comin' Round The Mountain (1951).[2]
Jane married actor James E. Grant in New York on April 5, 1933,[10] and they divorced in 1937.[11] She died in New York's St. Clare's Hospital on March 7, 1957; her married name at the time was St. John.[1] Katherine married Ray Miller of New York,[12] and died in 1968.[6]
Partial filmography edit
| Year | Title | Appearance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1913 | The Return of Tony | Katherine | |
| 1914 | The Scales of Justice | Katherine | |
| 1914 | The Old Rag Doll | Jane and Katherine | |
| 1914 | When the Heart Calls | Jane and Katherine | Short |
| 1914 | Neptune's Daughter | Jane and Katherine | |
| 1914 | His Prior Claim | Jane | Short |
| 1915 | A Life in the Balance | Jane and Katherine | |
| 1915 | The Studio of Life | Jane and Katherine | |
| 1915 | The Clemenceau Case | Jane | |
| 1915 | Tony | Jane | |
| 1915 | The Devil's Daughter | Jane | |
| 1915 | The Magic Toy Maker | Jane and Katherine | |
| 1915 | Silver Threads Among the Gold | Jane and Katherine | |
| 1915 | The Soul of Broadway | Jane | |
| 1915 | The Galley Slave | Jane | |
| 1916 | A Daughter of the Gods | Jane and Katherine | |
| 1916 | Daredevil Kate | Jane and Katherine | |
| 1916 | A Wife's Sacrifice | Jane | |
| 1916 | The Ragged Princess | Jane and Katherine | |
| 1916 | Romeo and Juliet | Jane and Katherine | |
| 1916 | Her Double Life | Jane and Katherine | |
| 1916 | Love and Hate | Jane and Katherine | |
| 1917 | Trouble Makers | Jane and Katherine | |
| 1917 | The Small Town Girl | Jane | |
| 1917 | Patsy | Jane | |
| 1917 | A Child of the Wild | Jane and Katherine | |
| 1917 | Two Little Imps | Jane and Katherine | |
| 1917 | Sister Against Sister | Jane | |
| 1918 | American Buds | Jane and Katherine | |
| 1918 | Dixie Madcaps | Jane and Katherine | |
| 1918 | Swat the Spy | Jane and Katherine | |
| 1918 | Tell It to the Marines | Jane and Katherine | |
| 1919 | Smiles | Jane and Katherine | |
| 1919 | Love Us, Love Our Dog | Jane and Katherine | |
| 1922 | A Pair of Aces | Jane and Katherine | Short |
| 1924 | The Side Show of Life | Katherine | |
| 1949 | Knock on Any Door | Jane | Uncredited |
| 1950 | Cheaper by the Dozen | Jane | Uncredited |
| 1951 | Comin' Round the Mountain | Jane | Uncredited |
See also edit
- Madeline and Marion Fairbanks, identical twin actresses in film and theatre
- The Duncan Sisters, American vaudeville duo
References edit
- ^ a b "Jane Lee Is Dead at 45". The New York Times. March 20, 1957. p. 37.
Mrs. St. John Was Child Film Star Forty Years Ago
- ^ a b Massa, Steve (2017). Slapstick Divas: The Women of Silent Comedy. BearManor Media. pp. 1836–1842.
- ^ a b Fitzpatrick, Kevin C. (March 19, 2015). "Thomas Banahan, The Forgotten Stage Dad". fitzpatrickauthor.com.
- ^ Lysaght, Dan J. (June 15, 1924). "Misses novelty acts". The Standard Union. p. 25.
- ^ "The Fearless "Lee Kids"". Motography. Vol. 15, no. 21. May 20, 1916. p. 1158.
- ^ a b Liebman, Roy (2015). Vitaphone Films: A Catalogue of the Features and Shorts. McFarland. pp. 368–369. ISBN 9781476609362.
- ^ "Baby Actress a Prodigy". The Washington Times. December 31, 1916. p. 6 – via Library of Congress.
- ^ Solomon, Aubrey (2014). The Fox Film Corporation, 1915-1935: A History and Filmography. McFarland. p. 27. ISBN 978-0-786-48610-6.
- ^ Weaver, William R. (September 28, 1940). "The money-making stars of a quarter of a century". Motion Picture Herald. pp. 123–124.
- ^ "Marriages". Variety. April 11, 1933. p. 51.
- ^ "News from the Dailies: Coast". Variety. Vol. 127, no. 10. August 18, 1937. p. 78.
James Grant, screen player, won a divorce from Jane Lee, actress, in L.A.
- ^ Vazzana, Eugene Michael (1995). Silent Film Necrology: Births and Deaths of Over 9000 Performers, Directors, Producers, and Other Filmmakers of the Silent Era, Through 1993. McFarland. p. 193. ISBN 9780786401321.